Means for quick freezing food packages



Nov. 18, 1941. J.-o. HAR\VIEY I 2,263,241

MEANS FOR QUICK FREEZING 1 00D PACKAGES Filed Dec. 22, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 cja lmedafikfvey 1941- J. o. HARVEY MEANS FOR QUICK FREEZING FOOD PACKAGES Filed o 22, 19:59 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zlrwwwfot QHarz/ey James Nov. 18, 1941. J. o. HARVEY MEANS FOR QUICK FREEZING FOOD PACKAGES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 22, 1939 grvuwrvfo b James QHarI/ey Patented Nov. 18,1941- MEANS FOR QUICK FREEZING FOOD PACKAGES James 0. Harvey, Sioux City, Iowa, alaignor of one-half to Earl L. Molar, Sioux City, Iowa Application December 22, 1939, Serial No. 310,614

7 Claims- This invention relates to an improved means for regulating the temperature of an article of food, which is positioned in a quick freezing compartment;

An object of this invention is to provide an improved method of lntially freezing an article or package of food so that the temperature of the article when removed from the freezing compartment will be of substantially the same temperature which is used in a cold storage compartment.

- Another object of this invention is to provide in combination with a freezing means a thermostatic element, which is connected to the freezing means and is adapted to be projected into the article which is being frozen so as to thermostatically regulate the operation of the freezing means in accordance with the temperature of the article in the freezing compartment.

Another object of this invention is to provide in combination with a of the article or product from the quick freezing. compartment or chamber into a storage chamber It still further object of this invention is to provide a temperature regulating means, which is adapted to control the temperature within a Y freezing compartment, the controlling means being of such a character that it may be positioned in direct contact with the article so that the regulation of the freezing means is controlled .by the temperature of the article.

At the present time in the freezing of food products, it is the practice .to place the products in a-quick freezing compartment which is adaptedto freeze the product to temperatures varying from 25 to 50v below zero 1'. However, the

freezing is accomplished byleaving the articles or food. products in the freezing compartment for a predetermined length of time during which the articles or products are subjected to the desired low tempera and after the articles have been left in the freezing compartment tor the duired time they are removed from the initial freezing compartment and. placed in a storage or freezing apparatus an electrically controlled valve connected to the ap- (CL 6H) locker room, which has a normal temperature considerably above the initial temperature in the quick freezing compartment. It is, therefore, a further object of this invention to provide a controlling means for a quick freezing mechanism,

which is adapted to be embedded or projected into the article which is inserted in the freezing compartment so that the article will initially act as an insulating means for the thermostatic 1o controlling means to permit the operation of the freezing mechanism in the normal manner until the article has attained the desired low temperature at which time the controlling means is adapted to cut off the flow of the refrigerant to the freezing compartment.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated-in the accompanying drawings, wherein are disclosed embodiments of this invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may-be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal section oi a thermostatic controlling means used in accordance with this. invention, the controlling means being 0 shown in combination with an electrically operated valve connected to the refrigerant line leading to the quick freezing compartment, the valve structure and connections to the controlling element are shown diagrammatically in this figur Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 Figure 1,

Figure 3 is' a detail side elevation of the controlling element, a

40 Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a time con'- trolled means for a quick freezing compartment,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section partly diagrammatic and partly broken away of a modified form of this invention,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 5, v

Figure '1 is a'longitudinal section partly broken away of a further modification of this invenn.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 0-4 Figure '1, and Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 'l.

Figure 10 is a fragmmtaryvertlc l section of a further modification of this invention.

Figure 11 is a atic view of the circult connections with the structure shown in Figurelo.

Referring to the drawings, and flrst to Figures 1, 2 and 3 the character. P designates a food package ,or article, which is positioned within a quick freezing compartment. The freezing comapartment is connectedby the refrigerating line Ill having a valve ll interposed therein.- The valve II is of the Spring Dressed type. which is normally biased to a closed position. The valve Ii is provided with a stem l2 and a valve operatingmechanism I3 is: connected to the stem and is adapted, upon the closing of an electric circuit thereto to maintain the valve II in an open position. The construction of the mechanism I3 is conventional. being of the electro- 'magnetic or solenoid type, the details of which are well known.

At the present time in the freezing of an article to a very low temperature, it is the practice to insert the article which is to bev frozen within the freezing compartment and leave the article in the compartment for a predetermined length of time after which the article is removed and placed in a storage compartment having a temperatureLsubstantiaIIyhigher than the temperature within the quick freezing compartment.

with the structure or apparatus at present possible to accurately deteravailable, it is not mine the temperature .of the article in the freezing compartment and in order to quickly freeze the article the temperature in the initial dreezingcompartment is maintained at a very low degree. which normally results .in the freezing of the article of food at a considerably lower. temail inner side thereof with an arcuate contact strip 3i, which is connected to a terminal 32 extending through the plate 21. The contact 23 is adapted to wipethe terminal strip 3| so as to hold the conductor 25 in constant engagement with the terminal strip 3| in any adjusted position of the cap 26. The stem portion l9 ofthe thermal member I1 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart contacts 33, 34, and 38. The contact 33 is the lowermost contact and the contact 33 is the outermost or highest temperature contact.

A second supporting member 31 of insulated construction is secured to the flange "and if desired may be formed as a part of the supporting member 20. The supporting member 31 is provided with contact members 33, 39, l3 and ll.

The contact. is connected to the contact 33 by a conductor 42 and the contact 39 is connected to the contact 34 by a conductor 43. The contact I3 is connected to the contact 35 by a conductor H and the'contact lis connected to the contact 36 by a conductor A movable wiper 46 of resilient construction is secured by a fastenf ing member 41 in the form of a terminal at the axial center of the cap 2i and is adapted to selectively engage with the contacts 33, 33, 33 --and II. The terminal 32 is connected by a wire or conductor to one side of the i3 and th terminal 41 is connected by a conductor 49 to one side of a source of electric current supply. The other side of the current supp y is connected by a wire or conductor 33 to the other side of the mechanism l3. The conductors 23 and perature than the normal temperature which is maintained in erroom.

I Inorder, therefore; to provide a means whereby the flowof the reirigerant to the quick freezing compartment may be cut'oif when the article positioned inthe compartment has attained a predetermined low temperature, I have provided a thermostatic temperature regulating device generally designated as It. This regulating device It, as shown in Figure 1, is adapted to be forced into the article of food and left in the the storage compartment or lock- 42 to 45 inclusive, may be of relatively stiff wire v so that these conductors will yieldably hold the thermal element I! with the bulb i3 thereof en-' ga in the socket 2|.

The exterior of the housing I 3 may be provided with a series of graduations-Il having indicia 32 associated therewith and these graduations II are associated with the contacts 33 to ll, inclusive.' A pointer 53 may be positioned on the exterior of the flange 23 so that the cap 23 may this manner the thermal member article during the time the article is positionedin the quick freezing compartment. The regulating member I, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a cone-shaped body or housing II, which isprovided at the base or large end thereof with a substantially cylindricalportion or flange II. The housing It has positioned therein a liquid thermal member l l, which comprises a bulb l3 and a tubular stem-i3. A liquid in the form of mercury is adapted to be positioned within the thermal member l1 and a contact 23 is connected to the bulb ll. 'lhe bulb -I3 is adapted to engage in a socket or seat 2|, which is positioned at the small end of the housing il with the stem l3 projecting axially in. the direction of the base -thereof. An insulated support 22 is secured to the flange or cylindrical part it and a spring pressed contact 23 disposed in a sleeve 24 carried by the support 22 is connected by means" of a conductor 25 to the contact 2|. A cap 23 engages the flange l3 and comprises a plate 2'! provided with a marginal cylindrical flange 23, which is rotatably secured to the flange 13 by means of screws or pins in an annular It so that the the flange i3.

23. The screws or pins 29 engage groove 33 provided in the flange cap may be rotated relative to- The cap 2.3 is provided on thr be rotated to a selected graduation II for connecting the terminal 41 with the desired contact on the stem it of the thermal member II. In

lated' so. as to automatically break the electric circuit to the valve operating mechanism i3 when the temperature of the article P. reaches a predetermined lowdegree.

Referring now to Figure 4, the numeral .33 designates generally a quick freezing compartment which has a refrigerant line 53 connected thereto; the refrigerant line I! is-connected'by a pipe Il and a valve ii is interposed in the refrigerant supply line it. An electrically operated valve operating mechanism I3- is connected to the valve stem l2 and this mechanism I3- is adapted upon energization thereof to hold the valve II} in normally open operative position. when the mechanism I3 is deenergized the valve structure ll" is adapted to beyi'eldably moved to a closed position. An articleoi' food P is adapted to be positioned within the freezing compartment 53 and in order to to C, which has a movable switch arm It connected to the desired shaft or The switch arm or wiper 56 is adapted to engage an arcuate terminal or contact 51, which is flxed to the clock C and the wiper 56 is connected by conductor 53 to one side of a source of electric current supply. A conductor 33 is connected to I! canbe regu--.

provide a means whereby the article P in the compartment 54 may be frozen the desired degree, I have provided a clock rotatable thereof.

tlaie contact 51 and to one side of the mechanism 1 connected by a wire ll to the other side of the current supply. With a construction of this kind the food article P is positioned in the freezing compartment 54 and the wiper or contact arm 54 is initially started at one end of the arcuate contact strip 51. am 56 will move over the strip 51 for the length of the strip 51 and when the wiper 50 is disengaged from the contact strip 41, the electric circuit to the mechanism it will be broken, thus permitting the valve I I to be yieldably moved to a closed position and prevent the further flow of refrigerant through the supply line II and the freezing .coil 55.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, closed another modified form of this invention. A thermostatic element i1- similar to the element i1 is adapted to have'the bulb i8 thereof positioned in a socket 2| formed in a, cone shaped article piercing point ii. The point 6| is formed as part of a tubular housing generally designated as 62. The housing 62 in a present instance is formed with an outer cylindrical part GI and an when the clock 0 operates the The other side of the I! is there is dis- I inner cylindrical part 84. The two parts Bland v 84 are coupled together by means of threads 85. The bulb l8 has a contact 20" connected thereto and also has a plurality of contacts 33534,

and 38', which are spaced apart longitudinally of the stem H, which communicates with the bulb it. Contact 20 is connected by means of conductor 2.": to a resilient or spring pressed contact I 23", which is carried by an insulated support 22- at the end of the housing 62 oppositely from the point 6i. A flanged cap 26- is rotatably mounted on the outer end of the tubular housing 82 being swivelly mounted thereon by means of a lug or pin 29 engaging in a groove 30' provided in the periphery of the outer tubular member 64. The cap 26 is similar in every detail to the cap 26, being provided with an arcuate contact 3 I, which is connected to a terminal post 32. The contact 23* is adapted to wipe on the inner surface of the arcuate contact strip 3|; The cap 26' is also provided with a wiper 46, which is secured at I the axial center of the cap 28' by means of. a

terminal post 41; the wiper 46 extending radially from the terminal 41". An insulated supporting member 31 is mounted within the tubular member 64 and the supporting member 31 is provided with contacts 38*, 39-, 40 and 4|. The contact 38 is connected to the contact 33' by a conductor 42' and the contact 39 is connected to the contact 34 by a conductor 43". The contact 40' is connected by a conductor 44 to the contact 35" and the contact 4| is connected by a conductor 45 to the contact 46. The periphery of the outer housing member 44 is provided with a plurality of graduations 5i with which indicia a tubular member 68 is provided at one end thereof with a conical article piercing point 61. Preferably the tubular member 66 is provided adiacent the pointed end thereof with threads BI and of the thermostatic means. A, pair of bimetallic resilient members "and 14 are secured at their inner ends to the core or plug 10, and if desired -may be embedded within the material forming the core 10. The outer end of the bimetallic member 13 is provided with a contact 15 and the outer end of the bimetallic member 14 is provided with a contact 16 confronting the contact 15. The two bimetallic'members 13 and 14 are so constructed that when a predetermined low degree of temperature is attained within the ar ticle in which the tubular.member 66 is embedded, the'members 13 and 14 will move away from each other so as to space the contacts 18 and 18 apart and thus break the electric circuit associated with the bimetallic members 13 and 14. The point G1 on the inner surface thereof may be provided with an insulated cone-shaped member 11 so as to prevent the shorting of the electric circuit when the two members 13 and 14 are in a circuit breaking position. In order to provide ameans whereby the thermostatic members 13 and 14 maybe tensioned I have provided an insulated ring 18, which is threaded into the adjacent end of the tubular member 81. The inner surface of this ring 18 is preferably of frusto-conical configuration so that manual adjustment of the core 10 in one direction will 52* are associated. The flange 28 of the cap 28* is provided with a pointer 53, which cooperates with the graduations 5 I in determining the position of the wiper 48 relative to the contacts I! to 4| inclusive. The terminal 32 is adapted to be connected by means of a wire 48'. to one side of an electrical valve operator II, which is connected to a valve ll interposed in a refrigerant line ill". The line W is adapted to be connected to a refrigerant coil positioned in a quick freezing compartment so that opening or closing of'the electric circuit to the operator l3 will effect opening or closing of the valve H".

In Figures 7 to 9, inclusive,-there is disclosed a further modification of this invention wherein tension the thermostatic members 13 and 14 and manual adjustment in the other direction will reduce the tension on these thermostatic members. The increase in the tension on these thermostatic members 13 and 14 will have the effect of requiring a lower degree of temperature. to move the contacts 15 and 16 apart whereas the decrease of the tension on these members will permit these members to moveapart at a higher degree of temperature. I

The strip 13 is connected to a conductor 19, which extends through the core 10 and is connected to a terminal 80 carried by the cap H. The strip 14 is connected to a conductor II. which is embedded in the core 10 and is connected to a second terminal 82 carried by the cap 1i. The exterior of the cap 1| may be provided with graduations 83 having indicia 84 associated therewith and a pointer 85 may be mounted on the tubular member 68 and associated with thegraduations 83 so that the user of this device may be able to determine at what degree of temperature the bimetallic strips 14 and 14 will break the electric circuit associated therewith. The terminals 80 and 82 are adapted to be connected to a valve operating mechanism similar to that shown in Figure 1, which is connected to a refrigerant pipe line leading to a quick freezing compartment.

In use and operation of the device shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the body i4 is forced into the food product P and this product then placed in controlling member I4 is inserted in the food product P, the temperature of the food product and of the controlling member I4 is such that the electric circuit to the valve operating mechanism I8 will be closed. The closing of the circuit to the mechanism I8 will provide for the latter to hold the valve II in anopen position so that s the refrigerant compartment may be supplied with the desired refrigerant. It will, of course,

be understood that the quick freezing compartstem. Thethermostatic' member shown in Figures 5. I to 9, inclusive, may be projected into the food products to a greater degree as the controlling members shown inFigures to 9 are constructed in the form of metallic skewers and a portion of each of these members may be left projecting outwardly of the food products so as to form a handle for withdrawing the controlling member from the food product after the product has been cooled or frozen to the desired low temperature,

Preferably the food product is frozen to -a temperature slightly below the temperature normally maintained in the storage locker I'OOIIL'SO that during the time the product is being'transported from the quick freezing. means to the locker room the temperature of the product will.

not rise above the temperature normally maintained in the locker room.

.In Figures 10 and 11 there is disclosed a further modification of this invention wherein a bulb 88* is mounted in the conical hollow point 88 carried by one end of a cylindrical body 81. The bulb 88' has cylindrical tube 88 communicating therewith and the tube 88 is connected to a short metal tube 88 by means of a connector 88. The

1 tube 88 and the bulb 85* are preferably formed of glass. The bulb 88 engages a'seat 8| formedin the conical point 88 adjacent the base there- 'of and the short tube 88 is provided with a flange or rib 82 engaging against the inner face of a cap 88 which is secured to the opposite end of the body 81. The cap 88 is firmly held on the body 81 by means of set screws 8|. 1

'One end of a flexible hose u is connected by means of a connector 88 to the pipe 88.and gasket 81 is interposed between the connector 88 and the cap 88. The opposite end of thehooe 88 is connected .to a bellows or expansible member The snap switch structure I82 is-a conventional switch structure which is adapted to be snapped on or off by movement of 1 the link I88 under the expansion or contraction of the bellows 88. The switch structure I83 includes a movable contact I84 and a stationary contact I85. The movable contact I 88 as shown in Figure 11 is connected by means of a conductor I88 to one side of an electrically operated valve operating mechanism I81 which is similar to the mechanism I3. The mechanism- I81 is operatively connected to a valve I88 interposed in a refrigerant fluid line I88 which is connected to a quick freezing cham-' ber., The stationary contact I88 is connected by means of a conductor II8 to one side of a source .of electric current supply and the other side of the current supply is connected by a conductor I II to the other side of the mechanism I81,

The tubular member 81 with the point 88 is adapted to be projected bodily into the food package so that the temperature of the food package will cause either an expansion or contraction of the refrigerant fluid contained in the switch controlling structure. of the fluid is relatively'high so that the bellows 88 will be expanded by the expansion of the volatile liquid refrigerant contained therein. As

the temperature of the food package drops under the action of the refrigerant in the quick freezing chamber, the bellows 88 will contract and when the bellows 88' has contracted to a predetermined degree, the movable contact I88 forming part of thesnap switch structure will be moved to a circuit breaking position thus permitting the valve I88 to be yieldably moved to a closed position. This valve I88 is a conventional valve structure which is normally biased to a closed position. The cylindrical body 81 and the point 88 are constructed in the form of a skewer which may be projected bodily into the food package and subsequently withdrawn after the package has been frozen to the desired degree.

By providing the hereinbefore described method and means of cooling an article of food or a food package, it will be possible for the attendant or user to more readily determine when the food product has been cooled'to the desired degree as this may be done by glancing at the valve oper-' 88 which is mounted in a housing 88 positioned remote from..theubody ,81. The bellow s 88 tosether with the hose as and the bulbil and the tubes 88 and 88 are adapted to contain liquid refrigerant which expand under temperature changes so as to effect an expansion or contraction of the bellows or switch operator 88.

The short tube 88 is provided with a filling-tube f l I88 having a cap I8I threaded thereon so that the expansible fluid may be inserted inthe tube 88 and fill the tube I, the bulb 85', the hose" and the bellows 88. v 'The'bellows 88 is operatively connectedto a snap switch structure I82 by means of a-link I88.

ating mechanism or the valve associated with the particular compartment to see whether the valve connected'to the refrigerant line leading to a particular compartment is in either open or closed position.-

WhatIclaimis:

1. Means for quickly freezing a food comprising in combination, a freezing chamber for receiving he package, a refrigerant conducting'line correlating with said chamber for redueing the temperature therein,- a controlling valve for said line normally biased to a closed'position,

a closed housing for extension from an end thereof into the package, an electrically operating 1 mechanism for opening said valve including an. operating circuit having a pair of terminals con- .nected to thevhousing, and a thermostatic .controlling structure for said mechanism within said". housing correlating .withsaid terminals and said terminals and adapted when thehousing is initially inserted in the package for clam said circuit whereby said mechanism will open said valveand when the temperature lowers toa predegree within the packageand the housing for opening said circuit whereby said valve will automatically move to closing position withrespecttosaid'line. v.

Initially the temperature 2. Means for quickly freezing a food package comprising in combination, a freezing chamber ing an operating circuit having a pair of tel-'- minals connected to the housing and provided 'with contacts, and a thermostatic controlling structure for said mechanism within said housing correlating with said contacts and adapted when the housing is initially inserted in the package for closing said circuit whereby said mechanism will open said valve and when the temperature lowers to a predetermined degree within the package and the housing for opening said circuit whereby said valve will automatically move to closing position with respect to said line.

3. Means for quickly freezing a food package comprising in combination, a freezing chamber for receiving the package, a refrigerant conducting line correlating with said chamber for reducing the temperature therein, a controlling valve for said line normally biased toa closed position, a tubular housing having a conical piercing point at one end for extension into the package, a liquid thermostatic element in said housing, spaced contacts carried by said element, a cap rotatably carried by the other end of said housing, a plurality contacts in said housing inwardly of said cap, means connecting said first contacts with said sewnd contacts, an arcuate wiper carried by said cap and engageable with one of said latter contacts, an electrically operated mechanism for opening said valve including an operating circuit having a terminal connected to said wiper and a terminal connected to said cap, a yieldable switch arm connected to said second terminal and engageable with a selected one of the remaining of said latter contacts, and said element adapted when the housing is initially inserted in the package for closing said circuit whereby said mechanism will open said valve and when the temperature lowers to a predetermined degree within the packa e and the housing for opening said circuit whereby said valve will automatically move to closing position with respecttosaidline. V

4. Theinventionassetforthinclaimflhaving said housing formedofabodyportionhavinga closedpointedend,an-openendandarevoluble closure for said open end, means for revolubly connectingtheclosuretosaidbodyportionfor adiushnentsaidcontactsandterminalsbeing carriedbysaidclosuraonaofsaidcontactsconstituting a wiper permanently with'a part of said structure and the other of said contacts for selective engagement with other parts of said structure.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 2 having said housing formed with an open end and a revoluble closure for said end, said structure in- I cluding a bulb, a stem, a series of conductors extending from the stem for selectively engaging with one of said contacts, a single conductor extended from said bulb for permanent engagement with the other of said contacts, means within the housing for supporting the said conductors and said housing having means correlating with said series of conductors for supporting said bulb and stem. 4

6. Means for quickly freezing a food package comprising in combination a freezing chamber for receiving the package, a refrigerant conducting line correlating with said chamber for reducing the temperature in the latter, a controlling valve for said line normally biased to a closed position, a closed housing for extension from an end thereof into said package, said housing including a body portion open at its other end and a revoluble closure for such open end, an electrically operated mechanism for opening said valve including an operating circuit havinga pair of terminals attached to and bodily movable with said closure, a liquid thermostatic element within the housing including a bulb and a stem, a plurality of electrical conductors electrically connected at one end to said stem and each provided with a contact at its other end, a resilient contact bodily shiftable with said closure for selectively engaging the contacts of said conductors and electrically connected to one of said terminals, a wiping contact electrically connected to the other of said terminals and bodily moving with said closure, a single electrical conductorelectrically connected at one end to said bulb and including a spring controlled contact at its other end in permanent electrical engagement with said wiping contact, and said element, said conductors and the contacts of said conductors correlating with said resilient and wiping contacts to provide when the housing is initially inserted in the package for closing said circuit whereby said mechanism will open said valve and when the temperature lowers to a predetermined degree within the package in the housing for opening said circuit whereby said valve will automatically move to closing position with respect to said line.

"l. The invention as set forth in claim 6 having said homing provided therein with means for said conductors at the contact end thereof, and said housing provided with means correlating with said conductors'for supportingv element inthe housing.

m liquid tic Ja me 0. mm. 

